the proper way to sing the national anthem is...complicated!

I can’t understand what’s the fuss all about. So Martin Nievera sang the national anthem in the recent Pacquiao vs Hatton fight, which is one of the greatest boxing matches of all time, and that includes Thrilla in Manila and Rumble in the Jungle. Anyway, before I get sidetracked. Where was I? Ok, Martin Nievera.

So our dear friend Martin, Philippines’ Concert King, gave his rendition of the song Lupang Hinirang before the millions (billions?) of people watching the fight. I don’t know about you but for me, not a big deal I thought. After all, I was watching a boxing match, not a concert. So no offense to Martin, but my attention is not really focused on him but on the guy with the gloves.

Anyway, the fight went great and it ended gloriously for the East (Battle of East and West). Not a week passed by and here comes the guardians of national anthem criticizing Martin for the wrong rendition of Lupang Hinirang.

Some quarters say Martin sang the first stanza softly and slowly, then sang the last line with prolonged, high notes. This is wrong, they say. In the past, other artists / singers such as Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Lani Misalucha and Bituin Escalante who also sang the National Anthem in different international events were also criticized for singing it incorrectly. I don’t know, maybe due to high notes, low notes thing as well.

Am I missing something? Is it just me or these people give off an impression that singing the national anthem is a complicated matter therefore should only be done by “experts.” We are making way too big a deal out of this thing that the moment we show glory to the world (through Pacman’s victory) we snatch it back by criticizing one of our own. The song was fine. Maybe not sang in the exact same way that Julian Felipe (Lupang Hinirang composer) would have wanted it but so do the millions of elementary kids all over the country who sing it every morning in their school grounds. If anything, singing the national anthem should be encouraged, not criticized.

Now, if you forget the lyrics, that’s another matter. Christian Bautista, maybe we should talk.